MRCI and Putting Green are working together to plan a sustainable small scale farming operation that employs MRCI clients and area youth, yields healthful products for area consumers and is an innovative landscape for learning, drawing visitors from around the region. More info

Enjoy a walk along the Minnesota River Trail. Interpretive signage was installed in the spring of 2007. This project was developed by Springfield High School students and a professional exhibit development team sponsored by Target, DNR, Brown County, and 3M.

In 2004 an excellent building was donated to us by one of our student board members, Jeff Tiedeken, and his family. He built it himself 2 years ago and it had one small operational solar panel. We remodeled this building to use as our Clubhouse (concession stand and ticket booth). It is totally solar powered using photovoltaic panels for 1 kw of power.

In 2006, the New Ulm Public High School construction class added office space to the clubhouse using resource-efficient materials. This is an important live demonstration of renewable energy technology, a great learning experience for our park’s operators (Putting Green students) and for all our park’s visitors.

We are also sprucing up the place with paint, more native landscaping and new colorful signage.

Putting Green is first and foremost a learning center. We are currently renting space downtown in the Rhein River Arts Center at 210 North Minnesota Street where we offer events, workshops, and classes. During our summer season we have an indoor learning center at the park site, a 30' geodesic dome (heavy duty tent structure) for birthday parties, events, workshops, classes, and to house our “Green Store”.

See www.pacificdomes.com. The dome can continue to be used at another location on the park site when the permanent Learning Center is constructed.

A portion of Putting Green Park, three and one half acres, was planted in native trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers. Planting began fall of '04 and there is tremendous opportunity to create a beautiful and bountiful park. All of the landscaping elements of the park will be displayed as educational exhibits.

The other six acres of the park make up the natural riverine ecosystem and though this riverside area will not be “landscaped”, it will be made more accessible to people through improvements made to the interpretive river trail, including a pier, monitoring station, and picnic area.